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Menudo desperdicio para la literatura

 

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  #1  
Old October 10, 2024, 08:25 PM
Michael30000 Michael30000 is offline
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Menudo desperdicio para la literatura

Hola a todos,

La frase en cuestión es del libro Tinta invisible de Javier Peña.

It's about Kurt Vonnegut.

Entendió que no era suficiente con llamar la atención, debía hacer sus historias más interesantes, más graciosas, enganchar a los oyentes y no soltarlos. No lo aprendió de golpe, sino poco a poco, con la práctica, cena tras cena. ¿Qué tipo de historias hacían reír a sus hermanos?, ¿cuáles recibían con desinterés?

Si Kurt hubiese sido el mayor y le hiciesen caso por una mera cuestión de edad y jerarquía, tal vez nunca habría sido escritor; tal vez habría sido solo un científico como su hermano Bernard, que dedicó buena parte de su vida a investigar la producción de lluvia artificial. Menudo desperdicio para la literatura.

Does "Menudo desperdicio para la literatura" mean "What a loss for literature", i.e. Bernard could have been a writer, but became a scientist?

Thank you.
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  #2  
Old October 11, 2024, 12:50 AM
aleCcowaN's Avatar
aleCcowaN aleCcowaN is offline
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It's talking about Kurt.

Menudo desperdicio = (it would have been) Such a squandering/waste.

As with many other cases, Spanish colloquially uses opposites to emphasize a meaning. Menudo Is similar to pequeño.

In my country we say

Pavadita de casa se construyó = He/she built a palace for himself/herself.

Pavadita means trifle.
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Last edited by aleCcowaN; October 11, 2024 at 12:54 AM.
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Old October 11, 2024, 12:55 AM
Michael30000 Michael30000 is offline
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Muchas gracias, aleCcowaN.
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